But Dalglish says: "People should take an intelligence check. All we have said is we want to move the club ­forward. Everybody will have a different perspective and will move the goalposts to judge whether it's ­moving forward or not.

"Whether it's points, ­position in the league, ­trophies or whatever, they are going to have their own agenda and how they ­define it. You can never get it 100 per cent correct.

"The most important thing for us is the progress the club has made on the pitch and off - with the academy and development of the kids. Commercially it has moved forward too.

"The greater incentive is to finish high up the league, but whatever way you look at it, I think we are better off than we were 18 months ago. There is hunger now to play for and represent this ­football club with the ­respect it deserves."